Our Strategy

2017: An Inaugural Year for EndPovertyEdmonton

A New Convening Organization

EndPovertyEdmonton has been catalyzed and incubated since its inception by the City of Edmonton. High level political leadership, financial resources, staff and infrastructure support have powered the initial Mayor’s Task Force from 2014 to 2016. In 2017, City staff resources will continue to support the transition to a community organization and launch in early 2017. It is anticipated that by June 2017 EndPovertyEdmonton will be well established in its new offices at United Way Alberta Capital Region location, and have its own staff Secretariat in place to support the work of the 5 community tables.

The Evolving City Role

As the catalyst of EndPovertyEdmonton in 2014-2016, the City of Edmonton played a huge role in supporting and enabling this collective impact movement to emerge and take shape. Its role will now shift to that of champion and advocate, partner and investor. Of the 35 actions in the EndPovertyEdmonton Road Map, the City will lead on some, partner on others, invest to activate a number and continue to play a key role in the governance model. The City’s corporate poverty oversight on commitments to the Road Map is currently in development as is the special relationship EndPovertyEdmonton will nurture with the municipality. Nurturing this special relationship with the municipality will continue to be a key priority for the new organization in its inaugural year and beyond.

Key Partnerships Emerge

In keeping with the Collective Impact approach, EndPovertyEdmonton has built a significant number of strong community partnerships that will be vital to its growth and success in this inaugural year. These keystone relationships include the United Way Alberta Capital Region, Edmonton Community Foundation, University of Alberta Community University Partnership and Edmonton Social Planning Council. In addition, strong actions and investments by the Government of Alberta also underline the key role of the province in the effort to end poverty. These significant relationships are complemented by over 40 expressions of alignment from adiverse cross section of community organizations, networks and leaders, which reflect strong community buy in to the EndPovertyEdmonton Count Me In focus. The graphic below illustrates the financial, non-financial and already allocated resources that support EndPovertyEdmonton and its Road Map implementation.

Where did the EPE Strategy come from?

Between September 2014 and March 2015, 200 Edmontonians from diverse sectors and backgrounds were engaged in seven Working Groups to analyze issues on poverty and develop recommendations for action in their areas of focus. More than 80 recommendations and 400 actions were generated. Many of these actions were inspired from existing precedents observed not just in Edmonton but also Alberta and the rest of the world. From these recommendations, and after consulting with thousands of Edmontonians through in-person engagement sessions and an online survey , 28 priorities were identified as key starting point strategies to ending poverty. The priorities address poverty by responding to urgent and immediate needs, removing barriers to change, and tackling the root causes of poverty.

After the EndPovertyEdmonton Strategy was unanimously approved by Edmonton City Council in December 2015, an Implementation Road Map was developed that provides specific direction for action over the next five years, starting in 2017.

While there are no quick fixes that will end poverty, this strategy offers actions the people of Edmonton can take right now to have an immediate impact.

The Six Game Changers

Recent research and best practices were examined to identify these six key areas that will make a significant difference to those people living with poverty. Some of the key local research, along with national and international research, was the Families First Edmonton research conducted by Community-University Partnership at the University of Alberta. These game changers chosen, through extensive research, were those areas that will make the most realizable impact in addressing poverty in our community.

A Bold Target

Lift 10,000 people out of poverty in five years

By 2021, we want 10,000 Edmontonians, who are currently living in poverty to enjoy better living conditions, to thrive and to prosper. It is a bold call to action, indicating a clear goal for the community to aspire for as we move forward with our vision.

In keeping with our holistic definition of poverty, we will assess our progress in achieving this target by looking at economic, social and cultural indicators of change.

Cornerstone Action

Create EndPovertyEdmonton as a convening entity.

Beginning in June EndPovertyEdmonton will transition from the Task Force, which was supported by City of Edmonton staff, to a broad based community entity. Rather than being a new organization, or not-for-profit, to tackle poverty and compete with existing agencies for resources, EndPovertyEdmonton will convene, coordinate, and broker innovative partnerships, advocate for policy change, and build capacity for Edmontonians to end poverty in our City. It will be guided by the Collective Impact approach, one that inspires a fundamental shift in how we bring a whole community together to achieve a shared vision and innovative solutions.

KÎYÂNAW

There is a word in Cree, kîyânaw, which means “for all of us.” By firmly believing that we are all in this together, our capacity to build relationships of trust with one another will form the foundation of community cohesion.

It will take of all us moving in the same direction if we are to be successful in ending poverty. The 35 starting point actions in the road map is just the beginning. As the new EndPovertyEdmonton entity moves into the community we invite everyone to share their ideas, passion and commitment and to join us in our shared vision of ending poverty.

The EndPovertyEdmonton Strategy

The EndPovertyEdmonton Strategy aims to end poverty in Edmonton, not to merely manage it or help people cope with it. The Strategy builds a strong case for ending poverty on three fronts: the economic argument, the human rights case and the public opinion approach.

Between September 2014 and March 2015, 200 Edmontonians from diverse sectors and backgrounds were engaged in seven Working Groups to analyze issues on poverty and develop recommendations for action in their areas of focus.

The Endpovertyedmonton road map

After the EndPovertyEdmonton Strategy was unanimously approved by Edmonton City Council in December 2015, an Implementation Road Map was developed that provides specific direction for action over the next five years, starting in 2017.

Influenced by the ideas and input of thousands of Edmontonians, including Indigenous Peoples and people with lived experience of poverty, this Road Map has been developed by Edmontonians for Edmonton.